Cargo ship Dali departs Baltimore for Virginia after bridge incident

In a significant development, the cargo ship Dali has finally departed from Baltimore for Virginia, nearly three months after a tragic incident where it lost power and collided with a supporting column of the Francis Scott Key bridge, leading to the bridge's collapse. The 984-foot vessel set sail with a full crew of 22 and six salvage experts, under the supervision of the U.S. Coast Guard, who have established a 500-yard safety zone around the ship during its journey. The Dali is en route to Virginia International Gateway to unload around 1,500 cargo containers to reduce draft before proceeding to Norfolk International Terminal for further salvage and repairs due to damage sustained in the bridge collapse. The ship's ordeal began on March 26 when it lost power and crashed into the bridge, resulting in the tragic deaths of six construction workers. Following an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, it was revealed that the vessel had experienced multiple power outages prior to the incident. After being stranded amidst the wreckage for almost two months, an agreement allowed the crew to return home, having been unable to leave the U.S. since the crash. The economic impact of the bridge collapse has been substantial, affecting thousands of workers and businesses, prompting officials to focus on reopening the port and restoring normal traffic flow to mitigate the financial repercussions. Efforts to address the aftermath of the incident have included the recent reopening of the Fort McHenry federal channel after clearing debris, with plans to rebuild the bridge by 2028. The voyage of the Dali marks a significant step in the ongoing salvage and repair operations, aiming to rectify the damage caused by the tragic collision and subsequent bridge collapse. The coordination between authorities, salvage experts, and crew members underscores the collaborative efforts to address the challenges posed by the maritime accident and its far-reaching consequences on the local economy and transportation infrastructure.